Dana Lurie ’21
What have you been up to since graduation?
I went straight from Northwestern to Harvard Law School. I’m now in my final year of studying for my JD. After graduation, I'll be going to the Minnesota public defender’s office in Minneapolis.
I figured out I wanted to be a public defender as an undergrad. First, laws and policies that I perceived as unfair made me angry—I was a social policy major, so I was often angry!—in a way that motivated me to act. I found myself particularly frustrated at the criminal legal system, which I saw then and still see now as a racist, classist, inaccurate, and inhumane exercise of state power. Second, my SESP Practicum convinced me that I wanted to work directly with impacted individuals. I loved having the opportunity to work in a legal aid setting and build relationships with my clients, and I decided I wanted that environment in any future job. Public defense sits at the center of that particular Venn diagram.
Law school has only confirmed my path. While at Harvard, I’ve worked as a student public defender in Washington, DC, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts; I’ve met passionate, dedicated public defenders who love fighting for the underdog; I’ve interacted with dozens of clients, whose lives and stories have all touched my heart; I’ve even had the chance to conduct a criminal trial. I’m excited to become a full-fledged public defender in Minnesota next fall.
When I’m not reading cases and writing memoranda, I’m usually at the gym, getting my daily 10,000 steps in, trying new bagel places around Boston, or playing with my cat, Molly. I’m also on the executive board of Harvard’s queer law student association.
Who made an impact on your life at Northwestern?
The community that most impacted me at Northwestern was Slivka Residential College. I met the majority of my friends there, served on the executive board as IT chair and president (during the Zoom portion of COVID, no less), and lived in the building all four years. I have to give a shoutout to all my fellow Slivkans, past and present, but especially to my Monday night Minecraft crew; my senior year suitemates; every faculty member who offered their guidance, particularly Kathleen Carmichael, Suzan van der Lee, and Karen Chou (aka KChou); everyone on the exec board from 2019 to 2021; and all the Slivkans who came before me and built such a strong, close-knit family. Thank you for making Slivka my home.
My Northwestern experience was also profoundly shaped by Renee Engeln and her Body and Media (BAM) lab. I joined BAM to do research my first summer and never looked back, staying with the lab for the rest of my time at NU. In BAM, I assisted with half a dozen psychology studies, learned how to work with and to manage my peers, and received constant advice and support from Renee. Our 2019 APA conference trip to DC remains one of my favorite undergrad memories.
What does success look like to you?
Success has been different for me at different times. In high school, it meant good grades and getting into a good university. At Northwestern, it meant creating a welcoming environment in Slivka and spending time with my friends while still completing coursework. For about six months at Northwestern, success meant not losing it during Zoom classes and quarantine. My first year of law school, success meant getting my readings done, no matter the cost; over the last year and a half, it’s meant taking a step back from academics to refocus on other, neglected parts of my life.
Now, I think success needs a good foundation: My mental and physical health, and some way to earn a living. On top of that, I want to find passion, community, and balance. If I can dedicate myself to causes that motivate me, surround myself with people I love who love me back, and make time for work, play, and rest, I’d call that success. I’m eager to see how this definition changes as I embark on my legal career.